IQ: AC/DC

Lightning bolts flash, thunder roars from the heavens, and the sky darkens ominously. And then ... Nikola Tesla turns off his latest invention and all returns to normal. Legend has it that the inventor, while operating in his Colorado Springs laboratory, lit 250 lamps from a distance of 25 miles with a device that he invented allowing him to transmit energy without wires. Tesla was the true inventor of wireless communications. It is time to acknowledge this genius for his contributions to society. After all, without the "Tesla coil," you couldn't go home and watch Friends tonight.

Les Hoover & Stan TluttElectricians, Holland Park & Florissant, CO

Les Hoover & Stan Tlutt

Electricians Holland Park & Florissant, COWho was Tesla? (Les) He was that electrician guy. He didn't invent electricity, though. That was the other guy.

What did he invent? (Stan) The transformer. He invented the transformer.

Has he been unfairly ignored in history? (Les) I think so.

What monument would best memorialize him? (Les) Well, they named the plant after him. (Stan) Yeah, they named the power plant after him here in Colorado Springs.

What's the best electronic invention of the century? (Stan) The best electronic invention of the century would have to be what he invented: the transformer. Without that we wouldn't have any other electricity. It had to come before we got everything else.

Charlie ReedServer, West Side

Charlie ReedServer West SideWho was Tesla? Nikola Tesla was a physicist who lived and worked in Colorado Springs.

What did he invent? Well, the Tesla coil. I know he did some work with radio waves and electro-magnetic radiation.

Has he been unfairly ignored in history? Oh, yes. I think the kind of concepts he was employing were so much more advanced than what was known when he was alive, that he was just looked over as just toying around.

What monument would best memorialize him? It'd be cool to have a Tesla coil actually operating in the middle of an intersection downtown. I could go for that.

What's the best electronic invention of the century? The microwave oven's pretty useful.

Tim WalsworthUnited Way, North End

Tim WalsworthUnited Way North EndWho was Nikola Tesla? He's the guy that invented stuff for radios, specifically the transformer.

Has he been unfairly ignored in history? Probably so, because I barely know who he is.

What monument would best memorialize him? What about a big, bronze transformer? Just this big round thing with wires coming off it.

What's the best electronic invention of the century? Computer. Personal computer.

Chris LangloisOffice manager, Downtown

Chris LangloisOffice manager DowntownWho was Nikola Tesla? He was a scientist. He was an inventor.

What did he invent? Well, I know about the Tesla coil. I know he was involved in electricity.

Has he been unfairly ignored in histrory? Absolutely. Except at Colorado College where they revere him.

What monument would best memorialize him? I'm thinking a light bulb because it symbolizes an idea, but I don't know.

What's the best electronic invention of the century? I'm going to say the telephone. It really helps people communicate.